In this vlog, I talk about my thoughts after watching the 2012 documentary How to Survive a Plague. The movie documents the many ways the queer community came together to fight the AIDS epidemic in the US, in the absence of government and societal action. I remember sobbing as I watched how much people had to fight just to get their basic needs met. Most notably, there was a scene where there was a community meeting, and there was infighting among the community members. While someone else off camera was talking indignantly, the camera was focused on Larry Kramer's face, who was sitting at a panel. And, at one point, he yelled, "A plague! A plague! We're in a plague and this is how you're acting?!?"
I took a screenshot of that scene, and I tweeted it, with the caption, "A heart-stopping moment." In my vlog, I talk about what it meant for me to have Peter Staley (he's that young man on the above pic being arrested by the cops) retweet it. I felt seen. It was one of the first times where I felt that I could actually make an impact, even if it was just through social media. Below is the screenshot of Peter's retweet :-).
My thoughts on Larry Kramer's opinions on prep/Truvada would be a subject of a future blog, only because I think it complicates my relationship with him. But, today, I'll celebrate all the participants of How to Survive a Plague, as folks who I owe gratitude to.
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